The vision for Lincolnshire’s answer to the Angel of the North was revealed in November 2017, with The Bomber County Gateway Trust hoping to bring the project to fruition this year – the 100th anniversary of the RAF.

Members of North Kesteven District Council’s planning sub-committee unanimously passed plans for the sculpture.

“I’m very please but not entirely surprised considering the amount of support we have had,” said Mr Sadler.

“The location of it is unique, it’s on the county border, and Lincolnshire is known for being flat and it will be a very welcome symbol for people who enter the county.”

Mr Sadler added that the trust needs to raise £100,000 to fund the project and has reached around £30,000 so far.

“We need to get people to dig a little deeper, but we have got a willing team of engineers and constructors on standby ready to build it,” he said.

In a statement, the trust have said that World War II veterans of Bomber Command will break the ground for the sculpture.

It said: “The trust is further pleased to announce that Second World War veterans of Bomber Command, including Dambuster George “Johnny” Johnson, will break the ground on the site to mark the start of construction work at a special ceremony on May 15, 2018.”